No Way Out

The Eurocrime subgenre was quite popular in the late 60s & early 70s. But in all honesty most of them are cheap and badly made films. Tony Arzenta (Big Guns) is, despite its terrible title, a positive exception. And that is for three reasons: a cool Delon performance, a superb soundtrack and a great 70s atmosphere. The action is not bad, the story is the most standard story out there (former hitman takes revenge on his old employers for killing his family) and the acting is wooden at its best. But there is something about this film that makes it better than most of its fellow Eurocrime flicks.

as many others. at the first sigh. different not only for the experience of director in the genre but for Alain Delon. who gives the impeccable performance from many others roles of his career. Tony Arzenta is a film about Mafia but different by expectations. for the small details. for the way of revenge. for atmosphere. sure, for the end. the flavor of Scily story, old, patriarchal, deeply defined by tradition, only a nuance but one real important is the piece who defines this seductive thriller about a man looking his definition of justice. short, a film who must see. for story. and, more important, for interesting science to explore old clichés of genre in the inspired manner. a beautiful film.

The explosive, sharp-shooting underworld thriller, 'Tony Arzenta' remains an absorbingly gritty Euro-crime classic from expert genre director, Duccio 'Puzzle' Tessari. There's simply no earthly good reason why this uncommonly adrenalizing 70s revenger shouldn't be mentioned in the very same J&B bated breath as cult favourites, 'High Crime', 'Violent Professionals', or 'Violent Rome' as,'Big Guns' high caliber poliziotteschi, and in some specifically groovy sequences, Duccio Tessari's Teflon tuff, well oiled shoot' em up teasingly usurps them!

Employing the reserved, Martini-cool Gallic master of Alpha understatement, Alain Delon as grieving, pitilessly vengeful, Tony is a casting coup; the frosty-eyed, whippet-lean, enigmatic arbiter of righteous retribution, blazes his balletic trail of brutal revenge deep into the ruinous underbelly of the Cosa Nostra remains a gloriously cathartic experience! I readily admit that the unspectacular premise of a weary hit man striving to break free from the mafia's mercenary clutches is a well-thumbed conceit; but when said coda is so rigorously reinterpreted by the uncommonly talented duo of Delon/Tessari, and throbbingly propelled by a truly lovely, heart-skippingly sexy score from gifted sound-wrangler, Gianni Ferrio, any hint of formula is resolutely quashed beneath Big Gun's stylish torrent of cinematic savvy, and the electrifying charisma of the polo necked prince of retro killer chic, Alain Delon, makes resistance nigh on useless!

Hit man revenge film.

A hit man wants out of the mob. The mob double crosses him. He gets some revenge by killing most of those involved.

This film has some strong action scenes. Some good chases. Lots of shooting. It's all done rather well. The acting better than average across the board here.

However, I was not a fan of the ending. I won't spoil it here. You'll either love it or hate it or ...not care either way. I didn't like it. A better ending, and this one could have been something special.

Alain Delon is great as usual in the genre that fits him like a glove. Tony Arzenta, a Euro-crime action thriller is directed in style and in a manner of a true craftsmen. This is the first Duccio Tessari film I had a chance to watch, and I was mostly drawn to it by knowing what Delon plays best and that is Le Samourai type character, a professional in his emotionless job. In this one he is attached and detached and drives the story to the conclusion that wouldn't stand a New York minute in Hollywood factory of dreams. That's why I love him and Franco/Italian crime films. Highly recommended to all the fans of this genre. You'll enjoy it, no doubt.